Tool handle



Dec. 16, 1930. H', BASSE-TT 1,785,608

TOOL HANDLE Filed D80. 13, 1929 31u/vento@ Henri/Bassett Patented Dec. 16, 1930 paratively prohibitive.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY LEE BASSETT, OF COLUMBUS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR 'IO COLUMBUS HANDLE AND TOOL CORPORATION, 4OIE COLUMBUS, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF NDIANA TOOL HANDLE Application filed December 13,- 1929. Serial No. 413,925.

In the manufacture of handles for shovels, spades, and such like tools timber of selected quality and character must be used, such as clear ash free from all defects. In former periods timber of this character was plentiful and could be obtained at comparatively low cost. Then it was more customary to make such handles of the type commonly termed D handles, the D being of wood and in piece with the stem. Such handles require a piece of timber about three times as wide as the diameter of the stem in order to provide the width required to form the D at the top. The result was great waste of timber. As the years have passed timber of the characterrequired for the purpose has become scarce and expensive so that such handles can be made and sold only at prices that are com- As an alternative handles have been made of the type commonly known as the Y type handle which is made Vby splitting the end of the stem, separating the two parts to receive the hand-grip, and riveting through the stem a sufficient distance below the top to limit the split at the proper point to form the handle. These handles require stems of the full length of the handle. Timber of the quality required to 'supply stems of such length has become scarce and expensive. On the other hand, timber of short lengths of vthe necessary quality may be had at comparatively low cost.

The object of my present invention is to provide means for supplying the upper end, or that part of the handle, carrying the handgrip,l of metal so that these short lengths of timber of high quality can be utilized and handles of the character named be provided and supplied at reasonable cost; and further, to provide such a handle that will be rigid and strong in its structure Vas well as light and convenient for use.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts,

Figure 1 is a view inelevation of one form of handle,

Figure 2, a side View of Figure 1 with parts shown in section, and

' Figure 3, a view in elevation of a modified handle.

The handle in Figures 1 and 2 is made from sheet metal. In this form each of the prongs 18 and 19 is preferably made from a single sheet of metal which is bent to form cooperating hollow or tubular arms between the upper ends of which is held a grip portion 16, this portion being held in by means of a pin 17. The metal of the prongs or arms bent in and the edges meet along a seam 20 on the inner side to form tubular structures. The lower portions of the arms 18 and 19 are also bent around and welded along seams 21 on opposite sides of the handle to provide a tapered socket. The crotch portion may also be welded along a steam 23 and at this juncture the meeting edges are turned to extend horizontally to form a slight space between the upwardly curved adjacent inner edges of the arms 18 and 19, thus forming a head or abutment against which the upper end of the stale may abut and also aord a convenient point of contact for a tool in driving the handle to place upon the tapered end of the stale. The wooden handle portion 14 may be secured in this socket by ineansof rivets 22. This form of handle provides a very sturdy. strong handle portion which is at the same time light and of a convenient forni.

Vhile I have shown the seperate halves 18 and 19 of the Y prongs as made from a single sheet of metal I do not limit myself to this. I may iind it desirable under some circumstances to make each of two or more parts and weld them together.

Ey making the handle portion in the form of a Y as shown I secure a longer handle portion and consequently may have a shorter stale. In actual construction by having the extra length metal top I can use a stale two inches shorter than was possible with the other types and this is of considerable economical importance in the manufacture of handles in large quantities. f

As shown in Figure 3 the handle may be cast in the form of a Y having prongs 19 and 11 which meet and leave a slight opening at 12. The lower portion 13 is hollow to provide a tapered socket in order to receive an end of the handle 1li, the handle being preferably secured in the hollow portion by means of rivets. A grip portion 16 may be held between the upper ends of the prongs 10 and 11 by means of a rivet or pin 17 which preferably is positioned eccentrically of the axis of the grip portion 16. In this form of the handle I preferably use some light material, although not necessarily so. I have found, however,

that handles may be made of an aluminum alloy or some other strong, Vlight material.

It Vwill be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in my device without departing from the spirit of 1 the invention and therefore I do not limit myself to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but'only as indicated in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as newv and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: Y

1. A Y-handle for shovels and such tools comprising arms of sheet metal bent into tubular form with the inner edges of each' arm abutting and with the lower of each arm formed to `provide a halfsoclret which lowerends of said arms mate their lower edges and are welded together thus providing a socket for receiving` the tool handle, a shouldered edge being provided at the upper end of the socket Where the mating edges meet, and the upper ends of said arms being shaped to receive the hand-grip, substantially as set forth.

A2.v A-tool handle of metal in the form of a Y having a grip portion secured between the upper ends ofthe branches of the Y and having a handle-receiving socket formed with anA abutment for the upper end of the handle and with a space between the 'two branches of the metal Y at the point of their juncture with the socket portion, substantially as set forth. 3. A Y -handle for shovels and such like tools comprising arms between which the hand-grip is mounted and a socket in which theupper end of the handle is inserted, said Y being formed of sheet metal stampings turned into substantially tubular form Witl mating inner edges and having their lower ends turned to form semi-cylindrical portions the edges of the sheets .composingthe respective arms being welded together and the mating edges of the semi-cylindrical portions forming the handle-socket being formed to abut, an abutment being formed the juncture of the two arms adjacent the upper end of said socket, sustantially as set forth. Y In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Columbus, Indiana, this 2nd day of December, A. D. nineteen hundred and twenty-nine. n

HENRY LEE BASSE'IT. 

